General Advice About Hypothyroidism,
Weight Gain and Diet

Hypothyroidism, or under-active thyroid, is 10 times more common in women than men. It is most common in women aged 40 to 50. In my experience, even while on medication, weight loss is slower than normal, so it is VERY important to stick closely to your diet plan AND take regular exercise.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism (Under-Active Thyroid)

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary in severity and typically develop gradually over months or even years. They may include:

Note: If you think you suffer from undiagnosed hypothyroidism, you must see your doctor. Please also check with your doctor before starting any diet program.

General Dietary and Weight Loss Advice About Hypothyroidism

Check Your Thyroid Levels Regularly

Make sure your thyroid levels are checked regularly, so your medication is kept at the correct dosage. Thyroid function can change quite quickly and needs to be monitored at least every 6 months.

Get Active

Take regular exercise. Physical activity is especially important if you suffer from hypothyroidism. It is essential in order to help speed up your metabolism and increase weight loss. A daily 30 minute workout, building up to 45 minutes is fine. If you currently take regular exercise, it will help to increase what you do by just 10 minutes extra per day.

Selenium

It is also believed to help if you increase your selenium intake. This can be done by eating foods such as whole wheat bread, bran, Brazil nuts, tuna, onions, tomatoes and broccoli. Include some of these foods on a regular basis.

Unhelpful Foods

Foods to eat LESS of as they may interfere with iodine uptake are: cabbage, kale, broccoli, kohirabi, mustard, lima beans, linseed, sweet potato, peanuts, soy products, so keep these to a minimum. You don’t need to cut them out completely.

Avoid Stimulants

Avoid caffeine drinks like coffee, cola; avoid stimulants like smoking and alcohol as these all effect the thyroid function.

Reduce Stress

Stress is a major factor and is thought to be a contributing factor to the development of hypothyroidism. One of the best ways to reduce stress is to take regular exercise.

More Information About Hypothyroidism and Diet

Iodine

It is well documented that a diet low in iodine is associated with hypothyroidism or under-active thyroid. The best supply of iodine is from sea salt and seaweed. In Japan, for instance, the daily intake of iodine from seaweeds is estimated to average 3mg per day and thyroid disorders are known to be extremely rare. The American Food & Drug Administration has limited iodine in supplement form to 0.15mg although as much as 2,400 mg has been given daily to children for five years without any noticeable ill-health effects. However do NOT take ANY iodine supplements without first consulting your doctor because excessive amounts of iodine can also lead to hypothyroidism.

Iodine With Vitamin E

When people with underactive thyroid glands take 4mg of iodine and 600 units of vitamin E, it has been found that the amount of iodine taken up by the gland increases and the quantity of thyroid hormones in the blood also increase “almost immediately and markedly”.

Brassica Vegetables

Cabbage and other brassicas vegetables (eg. Chinese leaves, brussel sprouts, turnips and kale) contain compounds known as ‘thioglucosides’ which, if taken in excess can disrupt the function of the thyroid gland. However, it should be stressed that this tends to occur only in people whose diets are already deficient in iodine.

Zinc

An Italian study shows that supplementing the diet with zinc improves thyroid function. Many patients with hypothyroidism have low levels of zinc, and the study demonstrated that over 50 percent of patients given zinc supplementation experienced improved thyroid function which reduced the incidence of clinical hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism and Toxic Materials

Preliminary studies have found an association between multiple chemical sensitivities and hypothyroidism. One study found a correlation between high blood levels of lead, a toxic heavy metal, and low thyroid hormone levels in people working in a brass foundry. Many of these people also complained of depression, fatigue, constipation, and poor memory (symptoms of hypothyroidism).

Occupational exposure to polybrominated biphenyls and carbon disulfide has also been associated with decreased thyroid function